STATE BAR SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR OUTSTANDING YOUNG LAWYER AWARD

Young Lawyers Section annually bestows prestigious award to honor an attorney's service to the community and dedication to the legal profession

ALBANY-The New York State Bar Association's Young Lawyers Section is seeking nominations for its annual Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, honoring a young lawyer who has rendered outstanding service to both the community and the legal profession. The award will be presented at a reception on January 27, 2011 at the State Bar's Annual Meeting at the Hilton New York.

"The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award recognizes New York's top future legal talent and shines a light on new attorneys who are already making excellent contributions to the legal profession and their communities," said Young Lawyers Section Chair Philip G. Fortino of Utica (NYCM Insurance). "We are thrilled to present this award again in recognition of New York's next legal star."

To qualify, nominees must be admitted to practice in New York and have practiced less than 10 years at the time of their nomination. Nominees also must primarily be involved in the active practice of law as distinguished from an attorney who has primarily been engaged in business, or served as a legislator or other holder of public office or position, where admission to the Bar is not required.

Nominations should be postmarked by November 5, 2010 and returned to Megan O'Toole, New York State Bar Association, One Elk Street, Albany, New York 12207. For further information, please visit: www.nysba.org/oyl.

Previous winners of the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award include Past State Bar President Kathryn Grant Madigan of Binghamton (Levene Gouldin & Thompson LLP); Joseph M. Hanna of Buffalo (Goldberg Segalla LLP); Andrew P. Sparkler of New York (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers); and David A. Kochman of New York (Reed Smith).

Founded in 1876, the 77,000-member New York State Bar Association is the official statewide organization of lawyers in New York and the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. The State Bar's programs and activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice system for more than 130 years.